I feel bothered when you are concerned about your cat or dog contracting fleas as a pet owner. Let’s discuss: what is the best home treatment for fleas? These parasites feed on animal blood and can quickly become a nuisance in your home, biting both you and your pet. Fleas may be a problem even if you do not have pets.
If you suspect you’ve noticed fleas or have an ongoing flea problem, call Rentokil Pest Control. Many homemade flea cures and “old wives tales” have been passed down through the generations to help prevent and eliminate fleas. Some of these “home remedies” may be true, but most are unlikely to solve a flea infestation after it has become entrenched in your home.
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What is the best home treatment for fleas?
If you’re like half of all Americans, you have a cat, a dog, or both! When pets enter your home, these lovable pets serve as excellent flea transportation. This blog can talk about some natural flea repellents and strategies for killing flea eggs.
What if you don’t have any pets and you have fleas in your home? This is when you should consider a rodent infestation and place mouse traps baited with peanut butter or glue traps. Numerous flea and tick merchandise on the market include chemical compounds, and you can apply them to your pet monthly.
Dish Wash
Using dish soap and water, make a flea trap at home. Fill a plate or basin with a mixture of warm water and dish soap and area it within the locations of your private home in which fleas are most energetic.
Because of the high viscosity of the solution, the water and dish soap solutions work like glue, trapping fleas. This process should be repeated every day with a new batch. This flea home cure should be carried out at night for best results.
Fleas are primarily nocturnal organisms. It has been claimed that placing a candle near the solution can help this natural flea medication, but this is not recommended owing to the potential fire threat that a naked, unattended flame might cause.
Salt
Salt, like baking soda, is reported to be an effective flea home treatment when used with vacuuming. According to legend, salt acts as a dehydrating agent, aiding in the removal of adult fleas.
Take some finely ground salt and sprinkle it all over your carpets for this home treatment. Allow for 1-2 days before vacuuming your entire home and dumping the contents into an exterior trash can.
Boric Acid
Boric acid, like salt, is a simple and easy-to-make flea-repellent. Boric acid acts as a flea dehydrator and desiccant. Boric acid can help you eliminate fleas, larvae, and eggs.
If you cannot find a shaker in the store, you can make your own. Fill two-thirds of a ready-made shaker with boric acid. Vacuum your carpets and any other areas that need to be flea-free.
After you’ve finished vacuuming, apply tiny layers of boric acid. Allow it to settle for a day or two before vacuuming the carpets again. The rugs can be cleaned after one month.
Oil of cedar
To get fleas off your canine or as a herbal flea treatment for cats, blend 3 to 5 drops of cedar oil with one to a few teaspoons of water and saturate your pet’s collar or a cute scarf with five to ten drops of the mixture.
If you like, you can replace the cedar oil with lavender oil. As long as you use them sparingly, these essential oils are even suitable for treating fleas in kittens and other young pets. Once a week, reapply the solution.
Spray with lemon juice
Lemon may be used in various ways around the house, but aside from treating wasp stings, it’s also an effective natural flea treatment.
Using this natural therapy, making a citrus spray to put on contaminated furniture is the treatment for fleas. To make this flea spray, thinly slice a lemon and place it in a pint of water. Bring it to a boil.
Allow the citrus solution to soak overnight before pouring it into a spray bottle. The next day, spray the citrus solution over the contaminated portions of your home, such as sofas, pet bedding, and chairs. Only dampen, not soak.
Rosemary
There is an “old wives tale” that Rosemary can be used to cure minor flea infestations by preparing a herbal flea powder with Rosemary – place the herb into a pestle and mortar with some rue, wormwood, fennel, and peppermint and ground into a powder.
Then sprinkle it on your carpets, furniture, puppy bedding, window sills, and any other areas of your home where you suspect flea activity. Rosemary is said to be a natural flea repellent. Therefore it will repel and prevent them, according to legend.
Herbal spray
Instead of using harsh chemicals, use this natural spray to rid your home of fleas. To make your solution, combine one gallon of vinegar, half a gallon of water, 16 ounces of lemon juice, and eight ounces of witch hazel, then vigorously vacuum your home to remove any stray fleas before spraying.
Anything that cannot be cleaned should be washed in the hottest feasible setting. Then, spritz the solution throughout your home and repeat as needed for an effective natural flea remedy.
Diatomaceous earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth comprises the minute remains of fossilized algae known as diatoms. It’s a fine powder that’s non-toxic to humans and works well as a natural flea repellent because it promotes dehydration.
To treat a flea infestation, sprinkling diatomaceous earth over areas suspected of having significant flea activity in thin layers. Allow the diatomaceous world to work its magic for two days before vacuuming, and then use the essential flea control procedures.
Take care!
It is vital to note that while utilizing diatomaceous earth as a natural flea cure, the food-grade variety should be used. Although non-toxic, the powder’s composition can make it messy and irritate your eyes and throat. It is recommended that you use a face mask while applying diatomaceous earth to your house.
Vacuum
Many of these “old wives’ tales” incorporate the simple procedure of vacuuming the afflicted parts of your property. Cleaning every nook and cranny, carpets, flooring, and furniture is likely more successful than most of these ‘old wives tales and treatments’ combined.
Flea larvae eat organic waste found in carpets, bedding, and furniture. To help avoid fleas, you should aim to remove any potential food source. Thus a targeted vacuuming regimen will help remove both food sources and adult fleas.
Remember to properly remove the contents of your Hoover outside of your home and seal them before disposing of them in an outdoor bin.
Flea-repelling plants
The final natural flea treatment uses certain plants to deter these biting insects. Certain plants contain unique oils, compounds, and chemicals that fleas despise and attempt to avoid.
Numerous plants repel fleas. Using these plants in flower pots and flower beds around your home is an excellent natural flea treatment. Plants that repel fleas include:
- Penny Royal
- Lavender
- Chrysanthemums
- Spearmint
Why is it so essential to get rid of fleas as soon as possible?
Fleas can transmit diseases and parasites in addition to being a nuisance. Trusted Source flea-borne typhus and bubonic plague are among the most devastating infections, despite their rarity. If a flea infection continues unnoticed, your pet could get heartworm or tapeworm. Tapeworm can infect humans on occasion.
Conclusion
It’s terrible to discover a flea infestation, but don’t despair. If you take proper precautions, they can be eliminated swiftly. Every few days, vacuum your carpet. Maintain your lawns regularly and remove any rubbish as soon as feasible.
Launder all linens and other cloth goods regularly and at a high temperature. The most important thing to remember is to treat your house, yard, and pet all simultaneously. This can assist in keeping the infestation from reoccurring.